I'm His

5

Chance takes our talk to heart. While I'm still not invited on any of the tasks he takes on, he doesn't try to keep them a secret anymore. "I've got to say, Adrian. I'm impressed." Shuffling a deck of cards, Phaedra deals. "If someone told me a year ago that some boy would have Chance wrapped around his little finger..." I frown at her. "I'm not just some boy, though." Phaedra waves a hand. "Whatever. You know what I mean. Anyway. I think it's cute." A girl sitting to Phaedra's right wrinkles her nose at her cards. "Wait, we're playing go fish?" Shaking her fiery hair over one shoulder, Phaedra gives the girl her most dazzling smile. "Of course. That's not a problem is it?" 'Oh...my god. Phaedra, that's going to make you look so uncool. I feel that way and I'm the reason they're playing.' If she cares, Phaedra doesn't show it. And the girl slowly warms up to the idea, playing along with us. "Any reason why we're playing the only game I can win?" I ask, chuckling at the absurdity of it. "I just don't have the mental capacity for anything more complicated right now." I roll my eyes. "Yeah, you've been scarce, too. Working hard?" I tilt my head at her. "Ugh. Yeah. It's not a good look on me." I chuckle at her. "Hey, don't say that. You always look good." Phaedra coos, reaching across the table to pinch my cheek and shake it roughly. "Aww, sweetie! You are just too cute. If you aren't careful, I'll add you to my collection." To punctuate her words, Phaedra leans back and puts her arm around a girl - another girl, who was watching the game with quiet interest. "Hey!" She pouts. "Kidding, kidding!" 'Uh, no, she wasn't.' I may not have fully learned how to navigate through Phaedra's relentless flirting, but I know when she's joking and when she's not.

While the other three are drinking, I'm careful to keep myself dry, with just a bottle of water in my hand. "Got any threes?" I ask, hopeful. "Nope. Go fish." I frown down at my cards and draw. "Ooh, is this where everyone is?" Surprising us, Hideyoshi vaults over the couch to join us at the table. He takes a seat next to one of Phaedra's new 'friends,' shooting a wink at her. "...Yes." She speaks frostily, warning him with her eyes. "We were having some quality girl time, in case you couldn't tell." Hideyoshi gives a pointed look towards me, the only other guy in the room. Phaedra waves it off. "He was invited." I don't take much offense to it since I don't really mind. "In any case, I love girl time." 'Oh god. Not all this again...' Well, if Hideyoshi has any sense, he'll only try to take one girl today and not get too ambitious by aiming for both. I text him as much, fiddling with my phone under the table. 'No way! Go big or go home!' I sigh in frustration under my breath. 'You don't know if they're bi or not.' I try, but it doesn't work. 'I know at least one of them is, by the way she's looking at me.' I shake my head at the screen. 'Good luck, then.' I go to put my phone away before it lights up again. 'Wait! Use your gaydar on them! What are my chances? Can you tell?' I feel the need to face palm, but refrain from doing so. '...I'm not a literal beam of gay that I can turn on and off, Yoshi!' I huff at him from across the table. 'Then what's the POINT?' When Phaedra and Hideyoshi do their usual song-and-dance, I'm left to focus on the game.

I can't help but feel frustrated and lonely later that night. The company is good while it lasts, but soon the other gangsters get restless. They decide to take it outside, driving off to have a fun night on the town. I decline the invitation to join. 'I can only watch them squabble over girls for so long before I get a headache.' I take a long, relaxing bath that night, pampering myself. 'I've never done anything like this, might as well try it out while I can. I've always been more of a homebody, anyway.' Chance is much the same, preferring quiet, solitary places. On our last night-time ride, he mentioned wanting to visit a national park..."...Just as soon as he has the time. I guess with a 'job' like his, there's not really a set amount of vacation days he can tap into." I sigh to myself. 'Great, now the only one I can talk to is myself. That's just peachy.'